DBCRT 45+ 1/2/3 squad Recap of 2011 Road Season
2011 was a banner year for the E45 members of the race team for a couple of reasons. In the BAT competition the E45's placed fifth in the NCNCA 45+ 1/2/3 cat. We finished ahead of Specialized and only 2 points away from being in the top 4. This has been the highest placing for the 45+ guys since the Cat E 45 1/2/3 competition began.
by Fred Schnarrs and Vance Russell
The team notched a total of 10 first place wins, 14 podium finishes, and 41 top ten finishes. Two team members upgraded from category 3 to 2, and as a plus, Steggall didn't get lost during the Chico Stage Race time trial and ended up winning the GC before having use of his new trusty salt lick. Right on his heels for a 3rd place on the Podium was another E45 Scott Wienker who was only 7 seconds out of 2nd place. Winning the Stage Race was a real nice feather in our cap.
- The Davis Bike Club Race Team Masters 45+ 1/2/3
Throughout the year as the team placed well or won key races we received compliments from other teams such as Safeway, Morgan Stanley, and Specialized. A team highlight was how well we worked together at the Copper Town Circuit Race. Ken Hill went off the front in a break early on, only to be caught. Fred then launched with two other racers and stayed 30 seconds or so off the front when Vance Russell bridged up to the break with teammates helping to disrupt chasing for the remainder of the race. Fred ended up placing 2nd at that race. Another highlight was a big win by Ken Hill at the Rancho Crit where he started a break with a couple of other riders; one being Molly Van Howeling a regular on the Wednesday night Putah Creek Time Trial. It was a great thing for Kenny as in Molly can TT, but really can't sprint. : )
Chris Bowlus added some TT power by winning the Esparto Time Trial. Vance Russell and Fred Schnaars both participated in the District Criterium Championship, and Shawn Miller and Mike Pugh both made it to Bend to represent the team at Masters Nationals. Mike Pugh did well, incidentally, a month before in a great E45 effort at the Cascade Cycling Classic, placing 3rd in the Road race, and 5th in a strong GC field.
Big congrats to our very own Lee Millon who sat out the race season so he could train for the 1200K Paris/Brest/Paris. His Category was the Sub 60hr ("A" field). His time of just over 43hrs was absolutely amazing. If you get a chance to talk to Lee, he'll say he's still not right.] And with that we still ended up with a 14.3 race average.
Quick stats for 2011: Two hundred and three races from 14 guys. One out with a collar bone, one out with a knee, one leaving mid-season with a crash at the Davis 4th of July crit.
The E45s are thankful for the support they have received from DBCRT to make the team work and to the General Club for all the support they have shown as well. We feel we have built a strong, cohesive team in a short amount of time that races well together and supports the club through leadership, volunteering and mentoring other riders. The E45 are already planning the next year to improve more, and are now taking bets on our odds to the win the January 2012 Team Smack Down were it will be us against the rest of the Race Team-- bring it baby!
